Gender eligibility report for FIFA recommends a move away from ‘yes or no’ debate in sport inclusivity
A report to examine competing perspectives on the participation of gender diverse athletes in sport, and their impact on the development of gender eligibility policies in football, has recommended a more nuanced and collaborative approach to gender eligibility in the sport.
By Helen Breese | Published on 7 November 2024
Categories: Press office; Research; Nottingham Law School;
Made possible with the support of the FIFA Research Scholarship and authored by leading discrimination in sport expert, Associate Professor Seema Patel, Nottingham Law School, the report draws on research to offer practical guidance aimed at creating an effective and harmonious, rather than oppositional, approach to regulation in football.
The study involved 30 unstructured conversations with female, male and trans-female athletes; coaches / heads in Men’s and Women’s football; specialists in specific areas of sport, such as university, inclusion, and human rights; science and medical experts; and academics across a range of disciplines, for example sports law, sociology and psychology.
The research also scoped 25 existing sport gender eligibility policies to map out the current landscape, alongside a comprehensive literature analysis which closely examined the perspectives of sport, science, human rights, law, lived experiences and ethics views on gender eligibility.
Findings reveal significant inconsistencies and gaps in current policies, highlighting the complexities of balancing the competing values of fairness, inclusion, and scientific evidence. However, the outcomes reveal a consensus that FIFA has an opportunity to lead the way in developing clear, evidence-based, and compassionate policies that protect the rights and wellbeing of all athletes.
Associate Professor Seema Patel, Nottingham Law School
The report recommends that FIFA consults representatives from all interested parties in a meaningful – rather than tokenistic - way, including but not limited to sport, science and medicine, law and regulation, human rights, cis-athletes, trans athletes, DSD athletes, social sciences and ethics.
It also stresses the importance of focusing on gender diverse players at grassroots and community level first, to map out participation and understand behaviours. This aims to give FIFA better awareness of how these players are progressing and identify where there are examples of inclusion, exclusion, advantage, safety, risk, injury or access.
It is also recommended that FIFA develop clear and consistent guidance for all levels of football, recognising that policies at the elite level can impact participation and inclusion at lower levels and outlining how the principles of fairness, safety, and inclusion will be applied across different levels of competition.
A cycle of regular policy review is endorsed, which recognises that gender diversity in football is an evolving area that requires ongoing research, consultation, and adaptation.
The creation of a Gender Diversity in Football FIFA Group is also suggested to oversee the implementation and ongoing review of gender eligibility policies, as well as engaging in outreach and education initiatives.
In addition, FIFA should develop and distribute educational resources to increase awareness and understanding of gender diversity within the football community, addressing topics such as gender identity, the science of sex and gender, and the importance of inclusion.
Report author, Associate Professor Seema Patel, said: “The rising presence of gender diverse people in the sport illustrates that football can be a welcoming and inclusive environment.
“However, there are a number of legal, regulatory and social barriers to inclusion across all levels of sport because of perceived difference. In other sports we have so far seen a tendency towards outright bans, based on inconclusive science without human rights considerations.
“There is no easy solution, but football has a unique platform to lead with care by encouraging healthy dialogues around inclusion in the sport, challenging misinformation and promoting understanding.
“Football’s globally influential position means that it can alter the current gender status quo through a collective approach to gender eligibility, which prioritises a thorough understanding of the diverse perspectives and experiences involved.”
Notes for Editors
Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.
About Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has been named UK ‘University of the Year’ five times in six years, (Times Higher Education Awards 2017, The Guardian University Awards 2019, The Times and Sunday Times 2018 and 2023, Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023) and is consistently one of the top performing modern universities in the UK.
It is the 3rd best modern university in the UK (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023). Students have voted NTU 1st in the UK for student employability (Uni Compare 2025)
NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with over 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across six campuses. It has an international student population of almost 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.
NTU owns two Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for outstanding achievements in research (2015, 2021). The first recognises NTU’s research on the safety and security of global citizens. The second was awarded for research in science, engineering, arts and humanities to investigate and restore cultural objects, buildings and heritage. The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
NTU was awarded GOLD in the national 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment, as it was in 2019.
NTU is a top 10 for sport (British Universities and Colleges Sport league table 2023).
NTU is the most environmentally sustainable university in the UK and second in the world (UI Green Metric University World Rankings, 2023).